Proud Lake offers camper cabins for rental year-round

Tents are usually an integral part of the camping experience. However, for the past year and a half, the Proud Lake Recreation Area has been able to offer an alternative arrangement for those not too keen on sleeping on the ground or being without electricity for the night, since it was chosen as one of 15 state campgrounds to have camper cabins.

The camper cabins began to appear in various state campgrounds a few years back, and while most sites only have one, Proud Lake was fortunate enough to get two, according to Andrew Haapala, the park’s unit supervisor.

These semi-modern cabins are equipped with electricity and heat in the winter time, and offer the perfect compromise for those who wish to enjoy nature’s peace and beauty while still keeping some of the comforts of home.

The three-room cabin — two bedrooms and one main living room — can sleep six or seven people. Each bedroom has bunk beds, while a futon in the main living room offers additional sleeping space. The cabin also has a countertop complete with a microwave and refrigerator.

However, the cabins are only semi-modern due to the fact that they do not have running water. Instead, users have to use the public restrooms provided for campers.

Haapala said the cabins have been gaining in popularity over the past year.

“Many people still don’t know about them yet. We’re hoping to spread the knowledge. But for the summer, both have been rented out for most weekends,” he said.

And the recreation area plans to continue adding nicer amenities to the cabins.

“We just finished extending the outside decks. They’re now 18 feet long. And we plan to add some Adirondack furniture to them soon,” Haapala said.

The decks offer a scenic view as the cabins are located on a bluff overlooking the Huron River.

The two cabins are located about 40 yards apart, making it ideal for groups to rent out both of them.

“We have a lot of people do that. They get the entire area to themselves,” Haapala said.

Each cabin has a fire ring for campfires and a grill, and each has room for parking. The cabins are open all year, and the rate for each is $80 per night in the summer and $60 per night in the winter. Reservations can be made by calling the recreation area at 1-800-447-2757.

“With all the trails and the rest of the park, you really feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere or Up North, but you’re really only 30 miles away from metro Detroit. It offers a good alternative to going Up North, especially with rising gas prices,” Haapala said.